DIET & LIFESTYLE GUIDE
for the 3 Doshas
Vata Diet/Lifestyle Guideline
(tridosha - fall guide)
Vata (air) types are most likely to suffer from emaciation, malnourishment or wasting away of tissues. Therefore, improving food quality and quantity is one of the most important treatments for Vata disorders. Vatas should generally try to eat more and more often. Anti-Vata therapies are nurturing, warming, moistening, calming and grounding. They should be done with patience, peace, consistency and regularity. A nutritive, strengthening diet is indicated with predominately sweet, sour and salty tastes. Pungent, bitter and astringent are not advised. Pungent however, can be used as a spice to regulate digestion, which is variable, unless person is hypersensitive. Care must be taken that the digestive fire is adequate, otherwise the heavy moist foods which are good for them may not be digested properly. If this happens, much needed nutrients will not be absorbed, and ama (toxins) will form from the undigested food mass, and also cause gas.
Foods should be warm, heavy and moist, with frequent and regular meals. Spices should be used in cooking to regulate digestion. Foods should be taken warm or cooked. Cold water or ice should be avoided, as well as stimulating beverages such as coffee, though a small amount of wine or alcohol can be taken with meals. Fast foods, junk and 'dead' foods should be strictly avoided. Not too many food types should be combined in the same meal. Use mild spices and salt. Excellent Vata Rasayanas (herbal rejuvinative pastes made with honey and ghee) include Vacha Rasayana for "peace of mind", very important for Vata's worrisome nature, and Ashwagandah, a rasayana to increase energy, vigor, strength and build tissue.
Meals should be not be taken when nervous, anxious or afraid, when excessively thoughtful or worried. Attention should be given to the eating process, tv watching, reading or any form of nervous stimulation should be given up during meals. Vata types do best if they do not eat alone, and food is cooked for them. They are the most in need of a dietary regime, as their lives tend to be erratic. They forget to eat, may not want to cook, may burn food. On the other hand, when given a good meal, they may tend to overeat.
Vata folks are more likely to suffer from food allergies, some foods that are usually good for them may have to be taken with care. Nightshade family (potatoes, peppers, chilies, eggplant, tomatoes) are most typical in this regard. Yet it is the Vata hypersensitivity that can render anything indigestible, so better to follow the anti-Vata regime rather than restrict foods.
Oil therapy is specific for high Vata, with warm heavy oils such as sesame and almond applied moderately on a regular basis. Best sites are feet, top of head, back and lower abdomen. Massage should be warming, calming, nurturing and relaxing, without pain. Best essential oils are warming, calming and clearing like sandalwood, camphor, wintergreen, cinnamon, musk.
Calming and grounding yoga postures are indicated such as those sitting and lying down. Calm, deep breathing practices are helpful, such as alternate nostril pranayama. Right attitude for meditation includes giving up fear, worry, anxiety, negativity and lack of faith; and devotion to the deities.
Most important life-style considerations include adequate sleep, early regular bedtime, moderate sun-bathing, avoidance of wind, cold, overwork (physical and mental), excessive talking or thinking, moderation in sex, travel, avoidance of excess stimulation including tv, media, computers, electronic equipment.
Kapha Diet/Lifestyle Guidline
& tridosha - late spring/winter guide
Kapha (water) types do better with a diet that is warm, light and dry. They should avoid food that is cold, heavy and oily. Accumulation of mucus in the body is a sign of taking too many Kapha-forming foods. Sweet, salty and sour tastes increase Kapha. Emphasize bitter (like aloe vera juice, greens), pungent (garlic, cayenne pepper; mild - cardamom, fennel) and astringent (red raspberry, bergamot) tastes. As most foods are sweet in taste, Kaphas should take less food. Their main dietary therapy is eating less food and taking more herbs.
Deep fried foods are detrimental. Junk and dead foods (canned, stale, old, processed, microwaved) derange all the doshas and create ama (toxins). Cold water, ice, cold and too many raw foods should be avoided. Kaphas need to drink water tepid, except in really hot weather and skip sodas! (disturbs water balance in tissues), keep liquid consumption to 4 glasses per day unless sweating heavily. If one must have ice-cream, it should be countered with hot ginger tea.
The �ultimate� Kapha balancing herb formula and a must during the winter months is one called Trikatu which breaks up mucus and facilitates digestion. 'Planetary Formulas' makes a good tablet form now called �Three Spice Sinus Support�. A valuable herb formula for cleansing mucus and candidias out of the whole system is the tri-doshic combination called Triphala. The same co. makes an excellent version. I recommend using the Triphala for detox, as a daily tonic strength cleanse, or stronger as a purge. It is balanced, not harsh and will help Kaphas drop weight.
The Rasayanas (herbal rejuvinative pastes made with raw honey and ghee) include a Chavran Prash for energy and digestion; and Sage Rasayana for mental stimulation.
Kaphas can skip breakfast - it is best for them to eat between 10am and 6pm. The main or biggest meal taken at noon, when agni (digestive fire) is at its best, the other two meals very light. Less time should be devoted to eating and preparing food (Kaphas tend to become obsessed with food) - that energy should be spent caring or cooking for others (like their Vata friends). They should fast seasonally or one day per week, and occasionally skip meals.
Kapha balancing lifestyle include not sleeping during the day to stave off Kapha sluggishness. Kaphas should rise early and stay up late. Do not sleep after eating. You can start out the day with a �dry brushing� with loofah sponge or soft body brush - to stimulate the lymphatic system and help release toxins and congestion. Work starting from the extremities, in towards heart.
Kaphas do best with strong and stimulating exercise each day, although it is hard to get them going. Mental and physical stimulation, variety, discipline and hardship, travel, pilgrimage - keep inertia and lethargy at bay. Yoga sun salutation is good to practice, along with bhasttrika (breath of fire).
Stimulating and cleansing fragrances and incenses are good like cedar, musk, camphor, cloves, cinnamon frankincense and myrrh.
Pitta Diet/Lifestyle Guideline
& tridosha - summer/late spring guide
Pittas usually possess the best appetites and strongest digestion, and can get away with excessive eating and bad food combinations. The effects of bad diet will manifest more through toxic blood and infectious diseases than simple digestive upset.
Pitta types should have their foods cool, raw, and not heavily spiced. They must avoid fried (especially deep-fried) foods, and those cooked with a lot of oil. Overly cooked or processed, old and rich foods increase ama, and can clog the liver, a common Pitta problem.
Pittas enjoy eating, and should be careful not to over-indulge. They grow irritable when hungry, although will skip eating altogether when focused on a goal. In general, they need to absorb new energy on a regular basis.
Meals should be taken with an attitude of calm, peace and thankfulness, avoid eating when angry, irritable or upset. Three regular meals are usually sufficient. Avoid eating late at night. Tending towards obsession, Pittas should cultivate clarity, rather than a critical nature regarding the diet they follow.
Tastes that decrease Pitta are: sweet, bitter and astringent. It is increased by sour, salty and pungent. Sharp or strong tastes increase Pitta; mild or bland decrease it.
Tridosha and Pitta-Vatas, Pitta-Kaphas should follow the Pitta Diet Guidelines and Pitta Food List during the late spring/summer seasons. Excess Pitta should be eliminated in the interim between spring and summer through purification techniques.
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